Courses

EPALS - European Paediatric Advanced Life Support

The European Paediatric Advanced Life Support (EPALS) course is a collaboration between the European Resuscitation Council and the Resuscitation Council (UK). The EPLS course and was launched in 2003 but was rebranded as EPALS in 2016. The course is intended to provide training for multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals in the early recognition of the child in respiratory or circulatory failure and the development of the knowledge and core skills required to prevent further deterioration towards respiratory or cardiorespiratory arrest.

EPALS is approved by the royal colleges of emergency medicine, paediatrics, anaesthesia and the association of paediatric anaesthetists (RCPCH, RCEM, RCA, APA) for training and revalidation for both consultants and junior grades in advanced paediatric resuscitation skills and management.

Each year, on average, 125 courses are held and 3,000 healthcare professionals are trained.

Who is this course suitable for?The EPALS course is designed for healthcare professionals who would be expected to apply the skills taught as part of their clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis. Appropriate participants include doctors, nurses and paramedics working in direct contact with children. All applicants must hold a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification. Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as candidates.

Learning outcomesUndertaking the EPALS course should enable you to:

use the structured ABCDE approach for rapid assessment of the seriously ill child;

manage the sick child until the arrival of expert assistance;

facilitate the development of resuscitation team members and team leaders;

use a structured approach to communication amongst team members during an emergency situation

Course structureEPALS courses are held at centres throughout the UK and are approved and certified by the Resuscitation Council (UK). This ensures uniformity of content and standard regardless of the centre.

The course is run over two days. All candidates will be registered on the Learning Management System (LMS) to access the pre-course multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ), course evaluation and post course certificates.

Course structureEPALS courses are held at centres throughout the UK and are approved and certified by the Resuscitation Council (UK). This ensures uniformity of content and standard regardless of the centre.

The course is run over two days. All candidates will be registered on the Learning Management System (LMS) to access the pre-course multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ), course evaluation and post course certificates.

Assessment and CertificationAssessments are based on clinical simulations that allow the candidate to effectively demonstrate the core competencies that have been taught on the course. The simulations are standardised and reflect reality as closely as possible.

Course assessment:

Continuous assessment of:

Skills (BLS and BMV are essential skills)

Participation in workshops and simulation teaching

Summative assessment - simulation

MCQ

Successful candidates receive a Resuscitation Council (UK) EPALS provider certificate, which is valid for 4 years. The EPALS course is recognised for 10 continuing professional development (CPD) points.

Pre-course preparationThe course manual is sent to candidates four weeks before the course. Candidates are expected to have prepared for the course by reading the manual and must submit their completed pre-course MCQ paper before attending the face-to-face course. Candidates are advised to complete the pre-course MCQ without reference to the manual.

EPALS courses are held throughout the year at centres across the UK. To apply, candidates should search for a course below and contact individual course centres for application details. Course fees are decided locally by the course centre; the Resuscitation Council (UK) only charges the course centre £26 per candidate registration and £28 per EPALS manual. For further information on any aspect of the course, please contact the EPALS Co-ordinator at EPALS@resus.org.uk